A modest card of 8 races precedes the big Group 1 meeting, this Sunday 20th October 2019. More specifically, the QE II Cup (Gr1) which marks the 2nd leg of the Singapore Triple Crown. Until then, two horses stand out on this card and should be worth following.
The best bet arrives early, in the form of SATURDAY in race 2 and he will be looking to go one better after a solid debut last time. The value on the card arises in the 6th race on the card, in the form of HIGH LIMIT. He’s no 33/1 shot but looks competitive in off his current mark and if overcoming his wide berth, he looks a massive threat and should present his followers with some respectable value.
Best Bet: SATURDAY (Race 2)
Value Bet: HIGH LIMIT (Race 6)
Race 1 – 12:50
Selections: 3 – 7 – 1 – 2 – 14
LEGEND ROCKS drops into Class 5 company after losing 6-points in the ratings, in his last five starts. With that said, he has been finishing just off them and his next winning turn is just around the corner. This will be just his third outing on the Poly and he has won over the 1000m in this class, at his first attempt on this surface. Having competed over further since then, he drops into a 6-furlong sprint and gets the blinkers fitted. Woodworth takes the ride and from a useful draw he should get the run of the race and rates the one to beat. ELITE SAINT showed good improvement in his penultimate start over this course and distance, when dropping back into this class. After tiring late over the mile in his follow up run, he reverts back to the 6-furlongs and lands a useful draw for his 11th start here. The son of More Than Ready is starting to look competitive off this sort of mark and he should be right there at the business end. DON’T WORRY gave a solid account of himself last time out, when dropping into this class and running on strongly for 2nd. The 4-year-old son of Ocean Park still has plenty of scope to improve and despite the fact that he has a wide draw to overcome this time, he will be running on late with the 2kg claimer up. If repeating that latest effort, he will be involved in the finish. JUMPIN JACK put in a solid effort last time out, when reverting to this lesser class of opposition. Overcoming a wide draw, he boxed on well in the closing stages to finish 3rd and from a wide draw again he may have to employ the same tactics. He looks competitive off his current rating and must be included.
Race 2 – 13:20
Selections: 11 – 10 – 1 – 3 – 2
SATURDAY showed plenty of ability on debut when having an event filled outing over this course and distance. Drawn wide, he was severely bumped and forced to check at the 1100m and from a much-improved draw this time, he should find the run of the race. Duric retains the ride and with plenty of scope for improvement, he will be the one to beat. KIMITONARA beat the top selection on debut when opting for a start to finish approach. He was just collared on the line and he will more than likely try the same tactics here. Drawn wider, that may be his only option and he may just present himself as a moving target for the top selection. The apprentice claims the ride and with the scope to improve, he should be the main danger. SMOKE AND MIRRORS has been thereabouts and he finished behind the top selection last time when fitted with the blinkers. They will be removed today as they evidently had a lot to do with that moderate performance. He has another tricky draw to deal with, but he has plenty of scope to improve and the turn of foot to stand him in good stead. If repeating that penultimate effort, he’ll be in with a big claim. DIAMOND MINE has improved with every start and he finds an improved draw this time. After a decent performance on the Turf last time, he showed enough form to go into contention in this modest field of Maidens. Lerner takes the mount and he deserves inclusion.
Race 3 – 13:50
Selections: 4 – 9 – 12 – 3 – 7
BLUESTONE is unbeaten in two starts and he takes the plunge into Class 4, for a return to the trip he won impressively over, first time out. Rodd rode him on that occasion and he regains the ride from a bit of a tougher draw. The son of Hallowed Crown has been one of the more impressive three-year-olds around and despite the fact that his last official engagement was over two months ago, he should be progressive enough to win here. PERFORMANTE returns from an even longer 3-month absence from the course. Prior to that, he gave two solid performances against Class 3 opposition and with another handy galloping weight, he looks well placed to be involved in the finish against this Class. WELL DESERVED has dropped in the ratings and he lands an improved draw, for his 12th bid in Singapore. He ran on strongly in his last start when overcoming gate 9 and with a senior jockey in the saddle this time, he should go a lot closer off this mark. He deserves inclusion. AUTUMN ASSAULT has a solid record to his name and he will have his first outing for the Steven Burridge camp. He hasn’t been involved in competitive racing since March this year, but with three trials under his belt since then, he shouldn’t need this too much. He will be partnered with a 2-pound claimer, from a good draw this time and from a handy position, he should be one of the key challengers for first prize.
Race 4 – 14:20
Selections: 2 – 9 – 6 – 3 – 10
QIJI DIAMOND went close last time out when having his first start on the Turf. That was over the same course and distance that he will be tasked with here and he gets the tongue-tie fitted this time. His conqueror on that occasion was BEER GARDEN, who lines up in the race prior to this one. A good performance from the latter should confirm his chances here. He has only had the three starts so far and thus has plenty of scope to improve further. Vlad Duric retains the ride from a reasonable draw and he looks tough to beat. LIBRAN SON has had just the two starts so far – both over this course and distance and he has performed well in both. Collett retains the ride from gate 3 and he gets the blinkers fitted this time. The three-year-old son of Burgundy has plenty of scope to improve and if doing so, he’ll be involved in the finish. Look out for the performance of SATURDAY in race 2, as he finished just in front of LIBRAN SON, in the latter’s last start. DELAWARE put in a solid effort on debut when overcoming a wide draw. He will enjoy the extra furlong this time and he lands in gate 1 to launch his challenge from. He too has plenty of scope for improvement and from a handy position, he will be finishing strongly and deserves plenty of respect. WAR FRONTIER returns from a three-month absence, after a useful performance in Gr2 company last time out. That was over this course and distance and despite the fact that he finished 7th, he was only beaten by 3.60 lengths. With this being his 4th outing, he will be looking to make his presence felt in this sort of company and he must be considered.
Race 5 – 14:50
Selections: 1 – 10 – 9 – 4 – 2
PINDUS steps on to the Turf for this first time and he comes into this race on the back of two good starts, where he finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. Drawn wide this time, Duric takes the mount having ridden him in two of his trials and he will be looking to commit to a handy early position. The son of Exceed and Excel, if overcoming that draw, has a great opportunity to find the winners’ box here and he’s worth following. LIM’S MOMENT went close on debut in what appeared to be a modest field. However, ROMANTIC finished in 2nd on that occasion and he has subsequently won since then. The former does have a much wider draw to overcome this time, but Woodworth sticks with him and if finding a bit of luck in running, he will be right there. FLYING TOURBILLON has had two decent trials over the 1000m and stepping on to the Turf for his debut, he should enjoy the extra furlong. Rodd took the mount in both of those trials and from a good draw, he sticks with him and looks good enough to feature prominently on debut. LIM’S TORPEDO has another tough draw to overcome, but he did show a good turn of foot in his second start which happened to be his only outing on Turf. That was over this course and distance and with a bit of luck in running and a repeat of that effort, he’ll be involved in the finish.
Race 6 – 15:20
Selections: 2 – 3 – 6 – 7 – 4
HIGH LIMIT has put in two solid efforts when running on strongly in the latter stages. Back on the poly this time, he has a wider draw to overcome this time and that will make things tougher for him. With that said, Lerner has stuck with him and he will go close if repeating that penultimate run on this surface. He may just need a bit of luck in running, but this race looks tailor-made for him and he deserves big respect. HOST THE NATION has been sliding in the ratings and he looks competitive off his current mark of 42. He finally lands a useful draw and duly gets the services of Benny Woodworth, who will be looking to take advantage of a good early position. He is a 10-year old son of Host, who has certainly been around the block and he will be tough to shake off at the business end. MA BAO BAO has also dropped to a competitive rating and he showed good improvement in his latest effort when stepping on to this surface. He finds a slightly improved draw this time and gets the services of champion jockey – Vlad Duric. If building on that last run, he rates a big threat here. LUCK MAK MAK is another contender who is sliding towards a very competitive rating and he is sure to go close to finding the winners box soon, off his current mark. He’s a fit horse and he shouldn’t have any issues stepping back up to this trip. All things considered; he looks set to feature prominently at the business end.
Race 7 – 15:50
Selections: 6 – 12 – 2 – 11 – 7
ALTAIR has shown plenty of class in both his starts so far and the son of Zoustar looks set for much better things in his career. He steps into Class 3 company this time on the back of an ultra-impressive win last time out. He duly received a 7-point penalty for that effort, but he appears to be a class act who should take this test in his stride. Woodworth sticks with him from a good draw and he rates the one to beat. SUPER POWER has slipped in the ratings prior to his last start and he delivered a good effort last time out, when overcoming another wide draw over this course and distance. He finds another wide draw here and Vlad Duric will more than likely be forced to get over early, to find a handy position where he has excelled from before. He will be required to sweat to achieve that 54kg requirement and that is telling. This son of Power put in a solid effort in Gr3 company three starts back and has the scope for further improvement, to go into contention here. SUPER FORTUNE has dropped in the ratings and he looks very competitive off this mark. Key to him being fancied here, is the fact that he finally finds a draw where he will be looking to settle a little handier this time. Having competed against Class 2 opposition in recent times, he drops in class and looks a major threat. RIVER RADIANCE looks to be the best of the rest. The son of Rip Van Winkle has his fifth start here and despite finishing well back in that recent trial, he was on a very tight hold throughout and he should come into this event cherry ripe for a big run. He deserves his opportunity at this step up in class and must be considered.
Race 8 – 16:20
Selections: 2 – 4 – 9 – 13 – 8
LIM’S ZOOM has delivered two good recent efforts on this surface and he overcame a wide draw last time, to finish strongly for just a 1.30 length beating. He was an impressive winner over this course and distance in his penultimate start and it is no surprise to see Woodworth stick with the ride. He has a slightly wider draw to overcome this time, but with his useful turn of foot in his arsenal he should be flashing home late. The slight drop in trip will provide a quicker tempo for him and that should suit him perfectly. He looks tough to beat. MIG PIERRO has the tongue tie fitted for his debut in Singapore. He brings good recent credentials to this outing having shown up well in all four trials prior to this race. Drawn in pole for his debut, he will be looking to capitalise on that bought of good fortune and must be respected. A glance at the betting movements should assist in determining his well-being/readiness. TOM CAT was an impressive maiden winner last time and he jumps straight into Class 4 company, for his follow up attempt. He isn’t short of scope and should have the expected improvement to come. From a useful draw, Azzopardi retains the ride and he must go in. FLAUNT finds an improved draw here, after a fair effort from gate 10 last time. He has been a consistent performer of late and he looks rather competitive off his current mark of 50. His second win in Singapore is just around the corner and if building on his current useful form, he’ll be right there at the business end and warrants inclusion in this league.
